Day 172: Psalm 69, 70, 71 and 72

The desert tribes will bow before him. . . . All kings will bow down to him (NIV 1984, Psalm 72:9,11).

This psalm was possibly written for Solomon’s coronation and then used in future coronation celebrations. It blesses the king’s reign with majesty, longevity, power and justice. Some scholars have asserted that the exaggerated language reflects expectations of a messianic king [11].

The desert tribes will bow before him. . . . All kings will bow down to him. Even though separated by verse ten, this is almost certainly a case of parallelism, an ancient literary device used in Hebrew poetry, which compares or contrasts two thoughts.

In this case the contrast clarifies a truth. In the first line, the word translated as bow is the Hebrew kara (kaw RAH). In the second line the word is shachach (shaw KAWH). The words carry two different connotations. Shachach implies the kings of the earth bow out of reverence and respect. This is the word used for bowing in worship. Kara is the word one would use to describe a defeated foe bowing with his conqueror’s boot on his neck – gritting his teeth, but bowing just the same. No reverence, respect or worship there.

God exalted him to the highest place . . . that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow (Philippians 2:9,10).

TODAY’S MEDITATION

When you bow, is it prompted by a spirit of worship or defeat? What’s the difference?

Day 171: Psalm 65, 66, 67 and 68

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:5,6).

In the days around Fathers Day my thoughts turn to those who have lost their dads, or even worse, those who never had a proper father figure in their lives. I wrote on Day 161 about my dad and how his life was completely changed (for the better) in the years between when my siblings were born and when I was born. The Dad I grew up with was a different Dad than the one they knew in their early years.

I imagine first century Christians must have taken comfort in these verses. A commitment to follow Christ often brought with it expulsion from one’s family. What did Jesus say? Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:29).

Today’s verse reminds us that God fills the holes in our lives. If someone never had a good dad, or if his father passed away before he was ready to say, Goodbye, God is there to fill that empty space. If a woman has no husband, for whatever reason, whether he left, or died, or she has just never married, God is there for her, ready to come to her defense and supply her needs. God even has a family ready and waiting for the orphan and the lonely. In love he has predestined us for adoption (Ephesians 1:4,5). The church is our new family, the new children for the people of God.

When we feel lost, there is a people and place for us.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Consider what being part of God’s family means.

Day 170: Psalm 61, 62, 63 and 64

You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name (Psalm 61:5).

Our heritage is something that has been passed down from preceding generations. One definition simply puts it: something that can be inherited [10]. This brings to mind two questions: What can those who fear God inherit that others cannot? What can those who fear God pass along to their children that others cannot?

From my parents I inherited a love for the church. It has always had and will always have a special place in my heart and in my priorities. I also have a love for older saints. I see in them a devotion to God and a spiritual maturity born of faithfulness in adversity. These are things to which I aspire.

What can I pass along to my children? Hopefully the same things. I also want my kids to utilize the brains God gave them to ask hard questions while keeping their minds open that they might discern truth. I want them to know that despite difficult times God has always been faithful to me, and that they can count on him too.

But this verse is more about what we receive as children of God than about what we receive from our parents. “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Assuming the premise that God keeps his promises, what do you have coming to you? Thank him in advance.

Day 169: Psalm 57, 58, 59 and 60

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed (Psalm 57:1).

During the summer of 2010, oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico from British Petroleum’s Deepwater Horizon well. For months it seemed the oil would never stop. What started as a personal catastrophe for the families of the eleven men killed in the explosion now ranks as the world’s worst man-made environmental disaster ever.

Disasters come in different forms. In addition to environmental disasters – both man-made and natural – there are international conflicts, financial blow-ups, relationship meltdowns and the list goes on. Illness and injury, violence and crime; none of us escapes disaster at some time or other in our lives.

David experienced more than his share of hurt. As a young man, his king put a price on his head, forcing him to seek refuge among his enemies. Losing a battle with lust led to adultery and murder. His son, motivated by resentment, seized David’s throne forcing him to run for his life yet again. His daughter was raped, his son was murdered, and another son died from illness in early childhood.

No doubt you’ve known disaster in your life too: investments crashing, retirement plans losing their value, children making bad choices, crime, accidents, or bad news from your doctor.

Today’s reading holds two relevant promises: 1) During dark times we have a refuge; and 2) the disaster – whatever it is – will pass.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Do you need a refuge? Cry out for God’s help.

Day 168: Psalm 53, 54, 55 and 56

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend (Psalm 55:12,13).

One can feel the sense of betrayal in this psalm of David. In his song Why?, Michael Card makes the observation: Only a friend can betray a friend / A stranger has nothing to gain / And only a friend comes close enough / To ever cause so much pain [8].

According to William Shakespeare, it was Julius Caesar who asked, “Et tu Brute?” [9]. It’s only with our friends – people whom we love and who are supposed to love us – that we are this vulnerable. Letting one’s guard down sets us up for heartache. But that’s not the end of the story. That vulnerability (and the trust it fosters) is the essence of relationship. We cannot experience love without taking the risk that we might get hurt.

God himself has experienced that hurt. Jesus was betrayed by both Judas and Peter. And how many times has God been betrayed by me? How many times should God have been able to count on my commitment, only to catch a glimpse of my back as I walked away?

But then love isn’t love if it’s on a leash… unless of course you’re taking your Beagle for a walk.

When were you last betrayed? When were you last the betrayer?

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Is there a betrayal which needs your forgiveness? Is there a betrayal for which you need forgiven?

Day 167: Psalm 49, 50, 51 and 52

Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble (Psalm 50:14,15).

Through the psalmist, God outlines the standard form of worship: burnt offerings of bulls and goats. Then he reveals the worship he prefers: 1) be thankful and demonstrate gratitude; 2) keep your promises; and 3) call upon me when you’re in trouble (vv. 14,15).

How often are we reminded that proper prayer proceeds with worship before going on to a shopping list of needs and concerns? And that’s important. John Stott writes: “It is always wise, before we pray, to spend time deliberately recalling who [God] is. Only then shall we come to our loving Father in heaven with appropriate humility, devotion and confidence” [7]. In other words, beginning with worship and a recounting of God’s name and character emboldens us to approach the throne of grace with a right heart and an expectant attitude.

But here we find straight from God’s heart that complete worship includes thankfulness, integrity (obedience) and dependence. We know from Samuel: To obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22), so the first two elements we understand. But the psalmist writes that even our requests in prayer are received as worship. We should never be ashamed of presenting our needs before our loving heavenly Father. There is something about acknowledging our dependence on God that puts us in the right posture to receive.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

For what do you need to ask God’s help today? Make it an act of worship.

Day 166: Psalm 45, 46, 47 and 48

Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).

There is nothing more difficult than being still. Most of us are more Martha than Mary. Too often, in order to quiet my body, I engage my brain with a book, music or television (although one could make the argument that watching television does anything but engage the brain). The point is that I even sabotage the quietness with noise… if not externally, then internally. Thoughts start racing through my head: what’s coming up next at church, worries, things I should be doing, pressures. That’s not being still.

In the 2010 Columbia Pictures remake of the Karate Kid, Dre (the Karate Kid portrayed by Jaden Smith) and his mom relocate to China for her work. Dre is bullied by local teens (who would do well to read Psalm 41), which leads to Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) taking him under his wing to teach him Kung Fu (yes, Kung Fu; not Karate). On one occasion Dre and Mr. Han are talking. Mr. Han tells Dre to be still. Dre says he doesn’t want to do nothing. Mr. Han replies, “There is a big difference between being still and doing nothing.”

Being still is intentionally stepping away from the hustle and bustle of everyday activities without replacing it with other forms of noise; not to empty ourselves, but to engage and be engaged by the heart of God. It is in being still that the full awareness of God’s power and majesty, as well as his love and care, can be ours. In short, this is the way we can know God.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

When was the last time you were truly still before the Lord? “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).